Mining machine



Y 1935- H. w. DRIEHAUS 2,606,855

MINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1933 5 Sheets-$11991, l

Emily 2, 11935..

H. W. DRIEHAUS MINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-$1199 1 lli Juiy 2, 1935. H. w. DRIEHAUS MINING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 8, 1955 M \NW \ww Q Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,006,855 MINING MACHINE Herman W. Driehaus, Cicero, 111., 'assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of-Illinois Application November 8, 1933, Serial No. 697,141 17 Claims. (01. 262-28) This invention relates to improvements in mining machines of the track mounted type adapted to cut horizontal kerfs in the mine wall adjacent the roof or floor or at intermediate positions with respect thereto.

U My invention has among other objects to provide a new and improved machine of the type described, constructed with a view towards utmost efiiciency and ease of operation, compactness, ruggedness and adaptability to varying mining conditions and more particularly to provide a counterbalancing means for balancing the machine during the cutting operation when the cutter bar is disposed to one side or the other of the track, together with a new and improved means for tilting the cutter bar for fol-'- lowing an uneven mine bottom.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of one embodiment of my invention with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 2 is a partial diagrammatic side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail partial side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and in section to, more clearly show the details of my invention;

and

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1,

ting element is supported on said turntable forvertical movement and angular adjustment withrespect thereto in-a manner which will herein-' after more fully appear when referring to the novel features of my invention.

'The cutting element I4 is similar to that shown in a prior, application Serial No. 659,522, filed by William W. Sloane, March 2, 1933, so

; will only be described in so far as is necessary The turntable I3 forms a sup-- to make my present invention clearly understandable. Thecutting element I4 includes a motor I5 secured to a cutter frame I6, which cutter frameextends forwardly therefrom and beyond the forward boundaries of the truck Ill.

The cutter frame I6 has a cutter head I! carried thereby for pivotal mlovement with respect thereto aboutanaxis extending longitudinally of the machine. The cutter head I'I forms a support means for a cutter bar I8, which cutter bar is supported for movement towards or away from the axis of rotation of said cutter head in parallel spaced guides I9,

I9. The cutter bar IB'has a cutter chain'ZIl, driven from the motor I5 in a usual manner, and. guided for ,orbital movement thereabout. The cutter bar, I8. is pivotally movable with respect to the cutter head I! about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cutter head for "adjustment for cutting along a mine bottom or 'for cutting in intermediate positions'between the mine roof and mine bottom in places of narrow width. A motor- 2I is provided on the truck I rearwardlyof the turntable/I3 and cutting element I4. The motor 2| forms a drive means for driving the track wheels I I for propelling said truck alongthe trackway at a high speed for transportation or a low speed for sumping the cutter bar into the coal or feeding the cutter bar along the coal face. Another drive, generally indicated by reference character 22 and not herein shown or described in detail, since it is no portion of my present invention, is provided from the motor 2! to the turntable I3 for turning said turntable'for positioning the cutter bar I8 for, cutting,.or. swinging said cutter bar across the front of they truck ID for feeding said cutter bar in an arcuate path across the coal face in the usual manner. 2

With reference now in particular to several of the novel features of my invention, a pair of relatively widely parallel spaced trunnion supports 23, 23 are provided on the turntable I3 adjacent the" forward end thereof. Each trunnion support 23 forms a bearing member fora stud 24, which studs in turn form a pivotal support adjacent their outer ends for frame members 25, 25. The frame members 25, 25 are arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other for pivotal movement about coaxialhorizontal axes extending transversely of the turntable I3 and cutting element I I, which axes are disposed adjacentthe forward end of the truck I0 and forwardly of the forwardm'ost track wheels l2, 12 when said cutting element is so positioned that its longitudinal center line is parallel with the longitudinal center line of said truck.

Each frame member has a pair of parallel spaced upstanding guides 26, 26 formed integral therewith adjacent opposite ends thereof. The frame members 25 extend along'the turntable I3 adjacent opposite sides thereof and are secured together by means of a C shaped counterbalancing member 21. The C shaped member 21 extends from the rearward end of the frame member 25, 25 along opposite sides of the motor l5 and beyond the rearward end thereof, beyond the turntable l3 and the rearwardmost track wheels l2, I2 a substantial distance-soas to counterbalance the effect of the weight of the cutter head 11 and cutter bar i8 and loads imparted thereto during the cutting operation.

The upper portion of the C shaped frame member 21 is in alignment with the upper sides of the frame members 25, 25 so as to obtain a maximum counterbalancing effect from said frame member, and said frame member is formed with hollow portions 28 and 29, 29, which are adapted to be filled with a relatively heavy material such as lead.

A'counterbalancing member 30 is secured to I the turntable 13, adjacent opposite sides thereof and extends rearwardly therefrom. The counterbalancing member 30 is likewise C shaped and conforms substantially to the shape of the C shaped member 21. Hollow portions 31 and 3la are provided in the counterbalancing member 39, which are adapted to be filled with lead or any other heavy material for counterbalancibng the weight of the cutter head l1 and cutter A suitable means is provided for tilting the cutting element I4 and cutter bar l1 about the axis of the studs 24, 24 and for yieldably holding said cutting element and cutter bar in various adjusted positions with respect to the mine bottom, which as herein shown, comprises an adjusting screw 32, having a collar 33 secured thereto, intermediate its ends. The adjusting screw 32 passes through a bored portion in the counterbalancing member 30 and is yieldably supported by said counterbalancing member by means of a compression spring 34 encircling said adjusting screw and interposed between the underside of the collar 33 and the upper side of the counterbalancing member 30, and a compression spring 35 encircling said adjusting screw and abutting the under side of the counterbalancing member 30 on an opposite side thereof from the compression spring 34. The compres sion spring 35 is held in engagement with the underside of the counterbalancing member 30 by means of a collar and nut indicated by reference character 31.

The upper end of the adjustingscrew 32 is threaded within the hub of a worm gear 39, which worm gear is journaled within a suitable casing 40, secured to the C shaped frame 21, adjacent the central portion thereof. A worm 4| on a transverse shaft 42 meshes with the worm gear 39. The transverse shaft 42 is journaled within the casing and is connected at its outer ends to shafts 43, 43 extending angularly with respect thereto in a forwardly direction, by means of suitable universal joints of an ordinary construction. The shafts 43, 43 extend through tubular portions 44, 44 formed in the C shaped frame member 21 and extend towards the outer edges thereof and have suitable hand wheels 45, 45 secured to the outer ends thereof for rotating said shafts and the worm 4| and the worm gear 39. Thus the C shaped frame member 21, frame members 25, 25, cutting element i4 and cutter bar I 8 may be pivot-ally moved as a unit about the axis of the studs 24, 24 for adjusting the angle of inclination of the cutter bar l8 with respect to the mine bottom.

The upstanding guides 26, 26 have racks 46, 46 secured thereto and their inner faces are adapted to be engaged by outer faces of the cutter frame 16. The outer ends of the upstanding guides 26, 26 are abutted by shouldered portions 49, 49 formed in the cutter frame 16. Retaining strips 56, 56 are secured to the outer sides of the cutter frame 15 adjacent the shouldered portions 49, 49 and extend inwardly therefrom and abut suitable shouldered portions formed in the outer sides of the upstanding guides 26, 25, permitting the cutter frame It and cutting element M to be slidably moved along said guides.

The racks 46, 45 are engaged by pinions 53, 53 keyed to longitudinally extending shafts 54, 54 adjacent opposite ends thereof, which shafts in turn are journaled in the cutter frame l6, adjacent opposite sides thereof and extend parallel with respect to each other. A worm gear 55 is keyed to each longitudinally extending shaft 54. The worm gears 55, 55 are meshed with and driven from suitable worms (not shown), which worms in turn are driven from the motor I5 in reverse directions without reversal thereof in a manner which has been fully described in the aforementioned prior application of William W. Sloane. The worm gears 55, 55 and worms meshing therewith are of the self-locking type, thus permitting the cutting element Hi to be locked in various elevated positions with respect to the turntable 43 when said worms and Worm gears are disconnected from the motor l5.

In order to keep the height of the machinedown to a minimum and permit a maximum amount of tilting movement of the cutter bar 18 with respect to truck 18, it is desirable that the axis of tilting movement be as close to the forward end of said truck as possible and that the studs 24, 24 be of a relatively small diameter. In order that studs of a relatively small diameter may safely carry the cutting element :4, frame members 25, 25, guides 25, 26 and counterbalancing member 21 during the cutting operation, it is necessary that a means be provided for taking a portion of the load from said studs during the cutting operation and especially while the cutter bar is being fed across the forward end of the truck. Suitable means have herein been provided for taking twisting loads from the studs 24, 24 and for preventing twisting of the upstanding guidcs 26, which comprise vertically extending bearing members 56, 56, extending upwardly from the trunnion supports 23, 23 and having inner faces which abut the outer sides of the upstanding guides 26, 26, and bearing members 51, 51 spaced rearwardly from said first mentioned bearing members and formed integral with and extending upwardly from opposite sides of the ccunterbalancing member 30. The bearing members 51, 51 have bearing engagement with the outer sides of the frame members 25, 25 rearwardly of the upstanding guides 26, 26.

It may now be seen that a new and improved means has been provided for supporting a mining machine cutting element and cutter bar for cutting adjacent the mine floor or roof or at va- =rious intermediate positions with respect thereto,

which means is so arranged as to take up a minimum amount of vertical and lateral dimen- -sions and permit tilting of the entire cutting element together with the guides which support said cutting element for rectilinear adjustment with respect to the turntable, and that the device of my invention is so arranged that the weight of the cutter head and cutter ban and loads imparted to the machine thereby are effectively counterbalanced in a new and novel manner.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the precise form illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a track mounted truck including a truck frame, a cutting element thereon including a projecting cutter bar disposed forwardly of the forward end of said truck frame, and means for supporting said cutting element for vertical adjustment with respect to said truck frame and for pivotal movement with respect to said truck frame about an axis extending transversely thereof including a trunnion support on said truck frame and a pair of parallel space guides pivotally connected to said trunnion support and extending rearwardly therefrom and forming an adjustable supporting means for said cutting element.

2. In a mining machine, a wheeled truck adapted to travel along a trackway, a turntable on said truck, a cutting element on said turntable including a motor and a cutter bar disposed forwardly of said motor and projecting beyond the forward end of said truck', and means for supporting said cutting element on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto and tilting movement in planes inclined with respect to the mine bottom including a support pivotally mounted on said turntable to rock relative thereto about a transverse axis, and guide members extending upwardly from said support and slidably engaging said cutting element.

3. In a mining machine, a wheeled truck adapted to travel along a trackway, a turntable on said truck, a cutting element on said turntable including a motor and a cutter bar disposed forwardly of said motor and projecting beyond the forward end of said truck, and means for supporting said cutting element on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto and tilting movement in planes inclined with respect to the mine bottom including a support pivotally mounted on said turntable to rock relative thereto about a transverseaxis, guide members extending upwardlyfromsaid support and engaging said cutting element, and means engaging said guide members for moving said cutting element vertically with respect to said truck.

4. In a mining machine, a wheeled truck.

adapted to travel along a trackway including a truck frame, cutting mechanism supported on said truck frame including a motor and a cutter bar disposed forwardly of said motor and projecting forwardly of the forward end of said truck, means for supporting said cutting ele ment for vertical movement with respect to said truck frame comprising a plurality of guide members extending upwardly from said truck frame and disposed rearwardly of the forward end thereof, and means for supporting said cutter. bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck frame about an axis extending transversely thereof comprising means for supporting said guides on said truck frame for tilting movement with respect thereto about an axis extending transversely thereof.

5. In a mining machine, a wheeled truck adapted to travel along a trackway including a truck'frame, cutting mechanism supported on said truck frame including a motor and a cutter bar disposed forwardly of said motor and projecting forwardly of the forward end of said truck, means for supporting said cutting element for vertical movement with respect to said truck frame comprising a plurality of guide members extending upwardly from said truck frame and disposed rearwardly of the forward end thereof and means simultaneously driven by said motor engaging said guide members for vertically moving said cutting element with respect to said truck frame, and means for supporting said cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck frame about a horizontal axis disposed rearwardly of the rearward end of said cutter bar comprising a trunnion support for said guide members and means for moving said guide members about theaxis of said trunnion support.

6. In a mining machine, a wheeled truck adapted to travel along a trackway, a turntable on said truck, cutting mechanism supported on said turntable including a motor and a cutter bar projecting forwardly of the forward end of said truck, means for supporting said cutting element for vertical movement with respect to said turntable comprising-a plurality of guide members extending upwardly from said turntable, racks carried by said guide members, pinions driven by said motor engaging said racks, and means for supporting said cutter bar for adjustable tilting movement with respect to said turntable about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar comprising a trunnion supportfor said guide members on said turntable adapted to form a transverse pivotal support for said guide members, and means for moving said guide members about the axis of said trunnion support.

7. In a mining machine, a Wheeled truck adapted to travel alonga trackway, a turntable on said truck, cutting mechanism supported by said turntable including a motor and a cutter bar projecting forwardly of the forward end of said truck, means for supporting said cutting element for vertical movement with respect to said turntable comprising a plurality of guide members extending upwardly from said turntable, racks carried by said guide members, pinions driven by said motor engaging said racks, and means for supporting said cutter bar for adjustable tilting movement with respect to said turntable about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar rearwardly of the rearward end thereof but adjacent the forward end of said truck comprising a trunnion support for said guide members on said turntable and means vfor moving said guide members about the axis of said trunnion. support.

8. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, a cutter head carried by said cutter frame for rotatable movement with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally thereof and a pivoted chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter head for rectilinear adjustment towards or away from the axis of rotation thereof, means for sup ing said cutting element for movement towards and away from said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on'said turntable, and means for supporting said cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck about an axis extending transversely thereof comprising a support member on said turntable having pivotal supporting engagement with said guide members.

9. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, a cutter head carried by said cutter frame for rotatable movement with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally thereof and a pivoted chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter head for rectilinear adjustment towards or away from the axis of rotation thereof, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable, racks carried by said guide members, pinions journaled in said cutter frame and meshing with said racks and a self-locking drive connection from said motor to said pinions, and means for supporting said cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar comprising means for supporting said guide members on said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis.

10. A mining machine comprising a track truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting el ment mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, a cutter head carried by 'saidcutter frame for rotatable movement with respect; thereto about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, and a pivoted chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter head for rectilinear adjustment towards or away from the axis of rotation thereof, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from saidturntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable, means for supporting said cutter ban for tilting movement with respect to said turntable about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar comprising means for supporting said guide members on said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, and means for counterbalancing said cutter bar when disposed to one side or the other of the center line of said truck comprising a weighted member extending rearwardly of said turntable and another weighted member extending rearwardly of said guides.

11. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a" turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including amotor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, a cutter head carried by said cutter frame for rotatable movement with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, and a pivoted chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter head for rectilinear adjustment towards or away from the axis of rotation thereof, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable, means for supporting said cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said turntable about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar comprising means for supporting said guide members on said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, and means for counterbalancing said cutter bar when disposed to one side or the other of the center line of said truck comprising a weighted member extending rearwardly of said turntable and another weighted member extending rearwardly of said guides, and a yieldable adjustable connection between said weighted members for pivotally moving said guide members with respect to said truck.

12. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, and a chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter frame for rectilinear adjustable movement with respect thereto, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable and adapted to slidably engage said cutter frame, and means for supporting said cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said turntable about an axis extending transversely thereof comprising-means for supporting said guide members on said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis.

a 13. In a mining machine, a truck adapted to be supported on a mine track for movement therealong, a turntable on said truck, a cutting element on said turntable including a horizontal chain carrying cutter bar adapted to cut a kerf in the mine wall by rectilinear movement of the truck along the trackway and by swinging movement across the front of said truck, a cutter frame forming a supporting means for said outter bar; means for supporting said cutter frame and cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar and for movement of said cutter frame towards or away from said truck for adjusting the elevation of said cutter bar with respect to the ground comprising a plurality of upstanding guides pivotally connected to said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, and means for taking the thrust of said frame upon swinging movement of said cutter, bar across the forward end of said truck comprising-a plurality of vertically disposed bearing members on said turntable having slidable bearing engagement with said guides.

14. In a mining machine, a truck adapted to be supported on a mine track for movement therealong, a turntable on said truck, a cutting element on said turntable including a horizontal chain carrying cutter bar adapted to cut a kerf in the mine wall by rectilinear movement of the truck along the trackway and by swinging movement across the front of said truck, a cutter frame forming a supporting means for said outter bar, means for supporting said cutter frame and cutter bar for tilting movement with respect to said truck about an axis extending transversely of said cutter bar and for movement towards or away from said truck for adjusting the elevation of said cutter bar with respect to the ground, comprising a plurality of upstanding guides formed in the shape of a widely extended polygon pivotally connected to said turntable for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a common horizontal transverse axis disposed adjacent the forward end of said truck, and means for relieving the thrust of said frame from the pivotal connection of said guides to said truck comprising a plurality of bearing members extending upwardly from said turntable adjacent opposite ends of opposite sides of said guide members and having bearing engagement with said guide members.

15. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, and a chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter frame for rectilinear adjustable movement with respect thereto, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable and adapted to slidably engage said cutter frame, and means for counterbalancing said cutter bar when disposed to one side or the other of the center line of said truck comprising a weighted member secured to and extending rearwardly of said guides adjacent the upper end thereof.

16. A mining machine comprising a) track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a cutting element mounted on said turntable for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, and a chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter frame for rectilinear adjustable movement with respect thereto, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and awayfrom said turntable comprising a plurality of vertical guide members supported on said turntable and adapted to slidably engage said cutter frame, and means for counterbalancing said cutter bar when disposed to one side or the other of the center line of said truck comprising a weighted member extending rearwardly of said turntable and another weighted member extending rearwardly of said guides adjacent the upper end thereof.

17. A mining machine comprising a track mounted truck having a turntable thereon, a

cutting element mounted on said turntable,

for vertical rectilinear adjustment with respect thereto including a motor, a cutter frame disposed forwardly of said motor, and a chain carrying cutter bar carried by said cutter frame for rectilinear adjustable movement with respect thereto, means for supporting said cutting element for movement towards and away from said CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION.

Patent No. 2,006,855. July 2, 1935.

HERMAN W. DRIEHAUS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 36, claim 1, for "space" read spaced; and page 4, first column, line 49, claim 10, before "truck" insert the word mounted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of August, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

